A Little Bit of Tension Pops Up

This wasn’t a veteran taking a youngster under his wing. It was a veteran verbally scolding a young player, trying to nip a potential problem in the bud.

The exchange, witnessed by cameras televising the game in the Bay Area, took place after the third inning Friday night, when Angel second baseman Adam Kennedy aired out first baseman Casey Kotchman in the dugout.

Tensions have been running a little high with the Angels, who are getting frustrated by their defensive lapses and inconsistent play, and Kennedy reached a boiling point.

Catcher Jeff Mathis had raced about 90 feet in an effort to catch a Frank Thomas foul pop fly, the ball squirting out of Mathis’ mitt in front of the first base dugout. Kotchman, playing toward the hole, gave chase but yielded to Mathis at the last second.

The play wasn’t ruled an error, but it came one batter after Mathis made a similar play toward the third base dugout trying to catch Eric Chavez’s pop fly, which fell out of Mathis’ glove for an error. Kennedy didn’t think Kotchman gave enough effort on Thomas’ popup and let him know it.

“That was a good opportunity for Casey to pick up Jeff,” Kennedy said Saturday. “I know it was a tough play for Casey, but we’ve got to be there for one another. You’ve got to give your best effort. It’s tough to say he got a good jump. I wasn’t convinced that was his thought process.”

Kotchman said he “thought Jeff had a better chance to catch it than I did.” Asked what Kennedy said to him, Kotchman, 23, shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Asked if the incident bothered him, Kotchman said, “I’m not going to comment on anything like that.”

The exchange wasn’t exactly two-sided.

“I didn’t say anything,” Kotchman said. “I was just listening.”

Manager Mike Scioscia didn’t think Kennedy was out of line.

“As a young player, you have to focus on making plays and not worrying about mistakes,” Scioscia said. “If you’re tentative in any area, you open the door for bad things to happen. Both [third baseman Maicer Izturis] and Kotch got a little tentative on those popups and made it tough on Jeff.”

While Scioscia doesn’t condone incidents that might fuel clubhouse friction, the former Dodger catcher knows they have their place.

“There’s a certain part of a peer element in there that’s very positive,” Scioscia said. “There’s reinforcement in the clubhouse every day, from staff and peers. A lot of times, when it comes from a teammate, it carries more weight.”

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Juan Rivera, who hasn’t played since April 16, had to cut short Friday’s batting-practice session because of a rib-cage injury, and the reserve outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

The Angels recalled speedy outfielder Reggie Willits, who was batting .298 with eight runs batted in and four stolen bases at triple-A Salt Lake. Willits will be available today.

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Although Hector Carrasco lasted only three innings in his spot start Thursday in Minnesota, giving up three runs and four hits, he will get at least one more chance to show he belongs in the rotation. Carrasco will start Tuesday against Detroit in Angel Stadium.... Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby, who was pulled from Friday night’s game because of a right triceps strain, did not start Saturday but was able to pinch-run in the ninth inning.